Today, I reminded myself that I needed to speak to myself like I would speak to someone I love and care about. I wanted to sincerely check in and ask myself, ‘Are you ok? How are you doing?’ May this also speak to you wherever you may be and whatever you may be going through.May these be words of encouragement that you are not ALONE.

There are times, moments, experiences, that make you question your entire existence and make you question whether your life is worth living and these are times when we need to look within and have real conversations with self.

Its ok not to be ok. Its ok to be hurting. Its ok to feel out of control and Its ok to not have all the answers.

I know right now you might be feeling like you are drowning, like you have been fighting through a storm and as soon as you feel like you are reaching for air, you find yourself drowning in crashing waves again. It doesn’t look like you will ever be able to reach the shore and that’s exasperating.

You might have a million questions without answers ,what when why how did it happen ,some days are better than others. Some days it is easier to accept WHAT IS but on others there are too many unanswered questions and it does get very dark.  I’m just surviving and you probably are in the same boat where you are alive and dragging through the days because there is so  much that still needs to be done by you and so many people banking on your very existence.

I know it’s probably so hard right now. Inexplicably hard. You might be hurting, physically, mentally, emotionally. You may feel alone, misunderstood, unloved. You might question whether this chaotic, painful life is worth pursuing. You might even wonder whether anyone would miss you if you were to give it all up. It may feel like you are living in an invisible war-zone. Life has humbled you in untold ways. You have cried endlessly, be it in your doctor’s office or crying yourself to sleep in your bedroom. And I know, you may even know this is a cross or crosses that will last your whole life. But still you find strength to wake up every day, wipe those tears away and wear a smile that covers that underlying, invisible pain. And for that, I salute you!!!

You might be wondering when the hurt will stop, but it is ok. You probably are confused with the irrational thought patterns. The tears that come and go without reason. The hollow, dark days. The tired days. The shaky, sweaty days. The incessant moments of panic rising up out of nowhere, the rage that takes you by surprise. But it is ok. Breath through the pain. Be gentle and kind with yourself. Take it one day at a time. Forgive yourself, forgive everyone, forgive the Universe-this is the foundation and beginning of your healing journey. Trust me, it is not an overnight process but it sure does get better with time. I believe that at some point, everything just stops hurting and you start living and being yourself again but it takes time and you have to do the work.

You may feel broken today, but I am here to remind us that  brighter days are coming. When night falls, we are guaranteed that the morning will come. Nothing – not illness, not pain, not heartbreaks, not depression, not anxiety – can change that truth. Hope defines you. Love defines you. You define you. You are not a victim. You are a survivor, a warrior. Remember this always, you continue to believe in your own worth even when you feel broken and alone. This is why You are here. You didn’t give up. You keep moving forward. You are so brave to face the pain and see yourself beyond it. I love you unconditionally!!!

His word tells us, ‘ He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

  Breathe.  Love.  Laugh.  Pray.  Live. This too shall pass…